Northwest Passage:
In the Footsteps of Franklin
Cruising through the maze-like, icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage is like sailing
deep into the history of the High Arctic. On this immersive 17-day expedition through the fabled
sea route, you’ll explore the same landscapes and waters that have enchanted adventurers for
hundreds of years, tracing their footsteps. Pay your respects at the final resting place of three of
Sir John Franklin’s lost crew. Visit traditional Inuit communities, and bone up on ancient cultures
at remote historical sites. Learn about the whaling heyday of the 1800s and, if you’re lucky, spot
present-day whales frolicking in their natural surroundings. On this active adventure, Zodiac,
kayaking and hiking excursions make it easier than ever to encounter the unique wildlife that call
this mysterious realm of dramatic fjords, glaciers and mountains home.
EXPEDITION IN BRIEF
• Experience highlights of Greenland and the Canadian
Arctic
• Explore colorful Greenlandic villages and shop for
traditional Inuit handicrafts
• View iconic arctic wildlife, such as whales, walrus and
muskoxen
• Hike the colorful tundra
• Cruise in a Zodiac to get up close to glaciers, fjords,
icebergs and more
DID YOU KNOW? The largest island in the Arctic Archipelago and the fifth-largest island in the world,
Baffin Island is the location of some of most breathtaking fjords on the planet. Encircled by five bodies of water,
the island is surrounded by sea ice most of the year and lies almost entirely in the Arctic Circle.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 1
Adventure Options
Booking an Adventure Option as part of your
expedition is a great way to enhance your polar
experience. These options are subject to availability
and fill up quickly, so be sure to book yours early.
Please note that Adventure Options are weather
dependent.
KAYAKING
Imagine gliding along the surface of a bay in the presence of
icebergs and glaciers! Our kayaking adventures are the best
way to feel at one with the sea. Taken by small groups of
10 people, multiple times per voyage, kayaking adventures
are only conducted during calm weather conditions. We
recommend you have some prior kayaking experience,
including the capability to do a wet exit.
More information about your Adventure Options, including the
necessary experience, physical requirements and cost, is available
by contacting your Polar Travel Adviser.
INCLUDED ACTIVITIES (VARY BY DEPARTURE)
HIKING
Hiking is a great way to appreciate the immense windswept
landscapes of the Arctic. The tundra comes alive during the
brief arctic summer, with bursts of color from shrubs and
plants that live in this polar environment. You’ll find that
each hike is different: you’ll explore communities, shorelines
or glaciated landscapes, often on the lookout for wildlife.
Hiking participation is optional, and your Expedition Team
will advise you of what levels of activity you can expect prior
to each excursion.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 2
Itinerary
Resolute
Fort
Ross
Bellot
Strait
DAY 1 Arrive in Ottawa, Canada
Your arctic adventure begins in Ottawa.
Explore the Canadian capital on your
own, before spending the night at your
well-appointed hotel.
Beechey
Island
Croker Bay
Dundas
Harbour
Arctic
Bay
GREENLAND
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
Baffin Bay
Pond
Inlet
Royal
Society Fjord
CANADA
TO
OTTAWA
Sam Ford
Fjord
Qikiqtarjuaq
DAY 2 Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
and Embark
Davis Strait
Pangnirtung
Baffin
Island
Kangerlussuaq
Nuuk
After breakfast, board your charter
flight to Kangerlussuaq, a small seaside
community that’s your gateway to
Greenland. Enjoy your first Zodiac
ride as you’re transferred from shore
to ship. Out on deck, take in your new
surroundings before you set sail on
your arctic adventure.
DAYS 3 AND 4 Exploring West Greenland
Locals call Maniitsoq the Venice
of Greenland, as it’s situated in an
archipelago intersected by natural
canals. Soaring, snow-capped
mountains surround the small, rocky
town, whose name means “the uneven
place.” Playful humpback whales spend
summer in the waters around here.
The Greenlandic capital of Nuuk is a
haven for history and culture lovers.
Stroll down to the waterfront to see
the Hans Egede Church and Hans
Egede statue, named for the missionary
Hudson’s Bay
FROM
OTTAWA
Actual itinerary may vary based on weather conditions.
Actual itinerary may vary based on conditions and voyage length.
who established the settlement in
1728. Marvel at the famous remains of
500-year-old fully dressed mummies,
discovered under a rock outcrop in 1972
by two brothers out hunting, at the
Greenland National Museum. The Nuuk
Art Museum and Katuaq Culture Centre
are also worth visiting.
DAY 5 At Sea
Say goodbye to Greenland’s shores as
you traverse the Davis Strait in pursuit
of the Canadian Arctic. Presentations by
on-board experts will prepare you for
the adventures that lie ahead.
DAYS 6 TO 15 Canada’s High Arctic
Visit towering fjords, historical sites
and traditional Inuit communities as
you follow the footsteps of famous
explorers from long ago in the
Canadian High Arctic.
The picturesque Inuit hamlet
of Pangnirtung, nicknamed the
Switzerland of the Arctic, is nestled
beneath the jagged peaks of Mount
Duval. An artist’s hub, Pang is
renowned for its traditional Inuit arts
and crafts, especially lithographs and
intricate tapestries. At the Uqqurmiut
Centre for Arts & Crafts, watch
WANT TO STAY LONGER OR ARRIVE EARLIER?
Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 3
craftspeople in the tapestry studio and
pick up a limited-edition print. A must
for visitors, a colorful Pang hat will
keep you warm during the remainder
of your arctic voyage. You’ll also visit
nearby Kekerten, an uninhabited island
that was a major whaling destination in
the 1800s.
At the southern tip of the Cumberland
Sound, Cape Mercy was named by
British explorer John Davis (yes, he of
the Davis Strait), who sailed through it
in 1585. The site of an old Distant Early
Warning Line installation, it’s an ideal
spot to go ashore for a hike.
As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait,
they’re naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuak
(formerly known as Broughton Island),
the iceberg capital of the world. The icy
waters here are sometimes also home to
narwhals, beluga and right whales, and
ring and harp seals. A hike up to the
hilltop inukshuk (a stone figure made
by the Inuit) rewards with spectacular
views of the community.
Cruising farther north along the east
coast of Baffin Island, we’ll approach
Isabella Bay, an important summer and
fall feeding area for a large population
of bowhead whales.
Stacked side by side, the dozens of
soaring cliffs of Sam Ford Fjord make
for a majestic site as you sail by. One
of the most isolated places on the
planet, the big-wall playground attracts
climbers eager to scale the sheer rock
faces that shoot straight out of the sea.
At the northern tip of Baffin Island, near
the eastern entrance to the Northwest
Passage, is the picturesque hamlet of
Pond Inlet. Spend some time exploring
this traditional Inuit community that’s
surrounded by scenic mountains, fjords,
glaciers and icebergs.
The area around Lancaster Sound
affords several hiking opportunities.
At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island,
you’ll visit an abandoned beachside
outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police. At nearby Croker Bay, cruise
in a Zodiac (at a safe distance) along
the face of an actively calving glacier.
Your Expedition Team will also keep
its eyes peeled for the muskoxen and
walrus that are known to visit the bay.
A hike to a nearby archaeological site
is another possible excursion. Farther
west, some of the best ancient Thule
remains in the Arctic are at Radstock
Bay, beside the soaring Caswell Towers,
a polar bear observation site. Exploring
the area, you’ll gain insight into how
these pre-Inuit people lived.
At the western end of Devon Island, the
windswept Beechey Island might be
small, but it’s steeped in history. Named
after famed British explorer Frederick
William Beechey, it’s a Canadian
National Historic Site. You’ll visit the
small marked graves of three crew
members who died during Sir John
Franklin’s tragic 1845–46 expedition.
Roald Amundsen landed here in 1903,
during the first successful voyage by
ship through the Northwest Passage.
Sailing down the east coast of Somerset
Island, you may have a chance of
spotting beluga whales and narwhals,
as they feed on the large numbers of
arctic char that enter Creswell Bay in
late summer. An Important Bird Area,
the bay also attracts such species as
black-bellied plovers, king eiders and
white-rumped sandpipers. You’ll also
have time to explore Fort Ross, where
the Hudson’s Bay Company established
a now-abandoned trading post in 1937.
At the midpoint of the Bellot Strait, a
narrow channel that separates Somerset
Island from mainland North America,
you’ll reach the northernmost area of
the continental landmass, Zenith Point.
DAY 16 Disembarkation in Resolute,
Canada
After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll
be transferred to your charter flight to
Ottawa, where you’ll spend the night at
your included hotel.
DAY 17 Depart Ottawa
Today, make your way to the airport to
catch your homeward flights, or spend
the day exploring Canada’s capital city.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Embracing the unexpected is part
of the legacy—and excitement—of
expedition travel. When traveling
in extremely remote regions, your
expedition staff must allow the sea,
the ice and the weather to guide
route and itinerary details. This
itinerary is a tentative outline of
what you’ll experience on this voyage;
please be aware that no specific
itinerary can be guaranteed.
WANT TO STAY LONGER OR ARRIVE EARLIER?
Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 4
Arrival & Departure Details
Welcome! As you prepare for your journey, you may be interested to know the details of your
arrival and departure. Since air transportation to and from your voyage is not included in the
cost of your expedition, you will need to arrange flights from your home to the starting point,
and home again from the finishing point. Quark Expeditions® can assist you with booking air
arrangements on an individual basis, or feel free to contact your preferred travel agent or airline.
Here are the details for your expedition.
Arrival Day and Embarkation
Final Day and Departure
ARRIVING IN OTTAWA
You may arrive in Ottawa at any time during Day 1 of the
itinerary, and make your own way to the included hotel.
DISEMBARKATION IN RESOLUTE
Your ship is scheduled to arrive back at the pier in Resolute,
between 7 am and 8 am local time. After breakfast, and once
the ship has docked, you will have time to bid farewell to
your Expedition Team and shipmates before completing
your disembarkation. The process takes about an hour.
After disembarkation, you will transfer to the airport for the
return charter flight to Ottawa.
On arrival at the hotel, you will receive a welcome letter
outlining the departure information for the following day’s
flight. An agent representing Quark Expeditions® will be
available in the lobby of the hotel this evening to answer
any questions about the charter flight(s) scheduled for the
following morning.
Please note: There is a strict luggage limit of 44 lbs (20 kg) checked
luggage and 11 lbs (5 kg) cabin baggage on the flights between
Ottawa and Kangerlussuaq, where the ship is docked. Should you
have additional luggage, it can be stored at the hotel in Ottawa.
There is NO option to pay for additional luggage.
KANGERLUSSUAQ AND EMBARKATION
Your flight to the Arctic is expected to depart from Ottawa
to Kangerlussuaq on Day 2 of the itinerary, after breakfast.
Although the scheduled flight time will be communicated in
your welcome letter, there is significant variability based on
weather conditions. You should be prepared to depart the
hotel for the airport on our group transfer at any time.
DEPARTING FROM OTTAWA
Upon arrival in Ottawa, there will be a group transfer to
your included post-expedition hotel. After breakfast the
following morning, you may make your way to the airport
to connect with your homeward flight, or stay longer if you
have booked additional accommodation.
Please note: Weather conditions can always delay our arrival, and
airline schedule changes have also been known to occur. Booking
flexible tickets is always encouraged, as we cannot be held
responsible for delays due to unforeseen circumstances.
LET US HELP YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS!
To book flights to complement your expedition, contact a Polar Travel Adviser
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all flights.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 5
Included Hotel Accommodations
Your included accommodation begins on Day 1 of your
itinerary, and the specific hotel(s) will be indicated on your
final voyage confirmation. If you are arriving prior to Day 1
of your expedition or are staying after the disembarkation
day, please contact your Polar Travel Adviser for hotel
options. Since accommodation space is limited, you are
encouraged to request any extra nights as early as possible.
Arrival and Departure Transfers
OTTAWA AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Arrival and departure transfers in Ottawa are not included;
however, your Polar Travel Adviser can arrange them for
you.
LET US HELP YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS!
To book flights to complement your expedition, contact a Polar Travel Adviser
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all flights.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 6
Inclusions
THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
• Shipboard accommodation with daily
housekeeping
• All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on
board
• All shore landings per the daily program
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our
experienced Expedition Leader
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily
program
• Formal and informal presentations by our
Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
• Photographic journal documenting the
expedition
• Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore
landings
• Official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
• Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin
• Comprehensive predeparture materials,
including a map and an informative
Arctic Reader
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
throughout the program
• All luggage handling aboard the ship
• Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum
benefit of US$500,000 per person
Note: Baggage allowance on charter flight is 44 lbs (20 kg) checked
and 11 lbs (5 kg) carry-on.
THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES
• Mandatory transfer package*
• International airfare
• Passport and visa expenses
• Canadian eTA required for non-Canadian or US
visa-exempt passengers
• Government arrival and departure taxes not
mentioned above
• Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical
travel insurance—strongly recommended
• Excess-baggage fees on international flights
• Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or
any other gear not mentioned
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
unless specified
• Phone and Internet charges
• Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for
shipboard staff and crew
• Additional overnight accommodation
• Optional kayaking activities
MANDATORY TRANSFER
PACKAGE INCLUDES
• One night’s pre- and post-expedition
hotel accommodation in Ottawa with
breakfast
• Charter flight from Ottawa to
Kangerlussuaq
• Transfers to and from the ship
• Charter flight from Resolute to Ottawa
• Transfers between the airport and hotel
in Ottawa
Package cost: $2,495
EXTEND YOUR STAY
Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 7
Dates & Rates
NORTHWEST PASSAGE In the Footsteps of Franklin
Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship OCEAN ADVENTURER
Dates
August 26 September 11, 2018
Days
17
Start/End
Triple
Lower
Deck
Main Deck Main Deck Superior
Porthole
Window
Deluxe
Suite
Owner's
Suite
Ottawa
$9,695
$12,595
$13,895
$18,495
$20,295
$22,295
$15,295
$16,795
•
•
Mandatory transfer package available for $2,495.
All rates per person in USD.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS
To book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options,
contact a Polar Travel Adviser 1.888.892.0073 (+1.203.803.2666).
1-888-892-0073
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 8
West Greenland
POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
KANGERLUSSUAQ
Kangerlussuaq and the Kangerlussuaq Fjord in West
Greenland present colorful buildings and potential for
glimpses of arctic wildlife such as muskoxen and caribou.
Lush mountainous landscapes provide a great backdrop to
this port, and whales may be spotted at sea.
NUUK
Home to 15,000 people, Nuuk is the capital of Greenland
and is the largest settlement on the island. The Hans Egede
Church and the statue of Hans Egede near the waterfront
are named after the missionary who founded the settlement.
The Katuaq Culture Centre and Nuuk Art Museum are also
worth exploring.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 9
Canada
POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
ARCTIC BAY
FORT ROSS
This traditional community has periodically been occupied
by Inuit hunters during the past 5,000 years. The protective
high hills and sheltered shores of this hamlet make for an
ideal nesting habitat for various arctic birds, including thickbilled murres, snow geese, kittiwakes, ivory gulls and Ross’s
gulls. Seals, narwhals and bowhead whales call the waters
here home.
In 1937, the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading
post on the coast of Somerset Island, named Fort Ross. Due
to the harsh conditions and isolation of the post, it was
closed in 1948. The store and manager’s house still stand.
BEECHEY ISLAND
Named after Frederick William Beechey, an explorer with
the Royal Navy, this is one of Canada’s most important Arctic
sites and has been deemed a Canadian National Historic Site.
During the Franklin expedition of 1845–46, two of Franklin’s
ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, anchored here with
perilous results. Three of Franklin’s crew died here and are
buried at a marked gravesite.
BELLOT STRAIT
The 1.2 mile (2 km) wide Bellot Strait separates Somerset
Island from Boothia Peninsula. During the transit, you sail
past the northernmost point of mainland North America.
PANGNIRTUNG
When the Hudson’s Bay Company built a trading post in
Pangnirtung in 1926, local Inuit families moved to the tiny
settlement. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment
was established two years later. A hospital opened in 1929,
but it wasn’t until 1962 that most of the Inuit who lived on
Cumberland Sound relocated to Pang. The community has
become internationally renowned for the tapestries and
prints by local artists.
POND INLET
Europeans have been visiting Pond Inlet since the 1600s.
The first visitors arrived seeking the Northwest Passage. In
the 1800s, whalers brought wood and barter goods to the
community. These visitors were Johnny-come-latelies, as
the indigenous peoples had been living in the region for
thousands of years, according to archeological evidence.
CAPE MERCY
PRINCE LEOPOLD ISLAND
In June 1585, British explorer John Davis (he of the Davis
Strait) embarked on the first of three voyages to search for
the legendary Northwest Passage. In August 1585, he reached
this area at the northern entrance to the Cumberland Sound
and named it Cape of God’s Mercy. Now known as Cape
Mercy, it’s the site of a dramatic glacial fjord. Polar bears
have been spotted ashore here.
Impressive, near perfectly vertical cliffs surround part of this
small island. This creates an ideal environment for nesting
seabirds, and they nest here in vast numbers—more than
500,000 strong! Thick-billed murres, black guillemots and
northern fulmars are most commonly seen here.
QIKIQTARJUAQ
CROKER BAY
A nearby glacier actively calves off chunks of ice, creating
a birthing place for icebergs at Croker Bay. The bay was a
popular stop during the 1800s, when a path to the Pacific
(the Northwest Passage) was at the forefront of Arctic
exploration.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN Known until 1998 as Broughton Island, Qikiqtarjuaq boasts
the highest mountains in North America east of the Rocky
Mountains. From the cape, multitudes of icebergs can be
seen coming down the Davis Strait, while whales, seals and
narwhals cavort off its shores.
EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 10
RESOLUTE
One of Canada’s most northern settlements, Resolute has
everything from a grocery store and cable TV to a Royal
Canadian Mounted Police station and a handful of hotels. It
also has an airport, which is your gateway back home. About
200 people live in Resolute throughout the year. Hunting
is a major source of income, while in the summer months,
tourism contributes to the community’s stability.
IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected
is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition
travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions,
your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the
weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary
is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this
voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be
guaranteed.
SAM FORD FJORD
This fjord is a rock climber’s dream. Tempting some of the
most famous mountaineers and adventurers, its sheer rock
faces form a severe barrier against the sea. The formations
and contrasts make for stunning photographs.
Last updated January 6, 2017
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 11